Get Your Kids Off the Couch With These Parks and Rec Activities

Is summer one long excuse for your kids to play videogames or watch MTV? Get them off the couch and active with a selection of summer activities offered by the city's Parks and Recreation Department.

Here's a sampling of their offerings, taken from the Summer 2011 brochure. For more, click here. To register, call 651-450-2480 or visit this website.

• Sports Unlimited Skateboarding Camp
  When/Where: 9 a.m. to noon on Aug. 1-4 at the Inver Grove Heights Skatepark behind the community center. Registration deadline on July 25.
  Why Go: Whether you're just learning or are ready to learn more advanced tricks, the Sports Unlimited Skateboarding Camp is for you! Make new friends, advance your skills and more importantly, have fun! Individual skills/tricks taught include: Balance, stopping, turning, ollie, nollie, heelflip and kickflips. Skateboard and helmet are required; knee pads elbow pads and wrist guards are recommended (all recommended gear available at no charge). Please bring a water bottle, snack, sunscreen and a great attitude!
  Cost: $100
• Rock N Roll Robots
  When/Where: 9 to 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 8-11 at Veterans Memorial Community Center. Registration deadline on Aug. 1.
  Why Go: Designed by experts at MIT, this unique system teaches students about simple machines, engineering, programming and more. Working in pairs, students will creat robots using the LEGO WeDo Robotics System. Your robots will include a monkey who plays a drum, a lion that roars, a bird that flaps its wings and more. This course builds knowledge of simple machines, engineering, programming and teamwork.
  Cost: $108
• Penny Carnival
  When/Where: 5 to 6:30 p.m. on July 21 at Veterans Memorial Community Center.
  Why Go: Save those pennies—the carnival is coming to town! Bounce on the moonwalk and have fun with games, prizes and special booths, all for one to five cents! No registration is required.
  Cost: Coins for the activities
• Horse Camp
  When/Where: 8:30 a.m. to noon on Aug. 8-12 at Idylwood Farms in Stillwater (transportation provided from Veterans Memorial Community Center). Registration deadline on Aug. 1.
  Why Go: This camp is a great introduction to the sport of English horseback riding. Learn to groom, feed, saddle and control horses at a trot and a rising trot. Skills are progressive. Fee includes transportation between the community center and Idylwood Farms, two hours of professional instruction, snack and safety equipment. Please wear denim pants and shoes with a hell—no sandals.
  Cost: $195
• Veterinary Skills Clinic
  When/Where: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 30 at Gale Woods Farm. Registration deadline on Aug. 23.
  Why Go: Spend the day at Gale Woods Farm learning how to care for chickens, sheep, cows and sheep-protecting dogs. Work with a Gale Woods farmer and experience what they do to keep animals healthy.
  Cost: $35